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Selsko meso
Pork, mushroom and pepper clay pot
Selsko meso (Селско месо): North Macedonian 'village meat' of pork, mushrooms and peppers baked in a clay pot
Every mehana, the traditional tavern, in North Macedonia has selsko meso on its menu, brought sizzling to the table in an earthenware pot: chunks of pork browned with onion, mushrooms and peppers, spiced with paprika and baked until the sauce thickens around the meat. It is pork-based, rich and peppery, and is eaten with fresh bread, a shopska salad and a dollop of yogurt for those who take dairy. Where most people go wrong is crowding the pan, so the mushrooms stew grey instead of browning. Chef's tip: fry the mushrooms on their own first in a hot pan until golden, they bring a deep, almost meaty flavour.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb pork shouldercut into 2.5 cm cubes
- 4 tbsp sunflower oil
- 10 ½ oz button or chestnut mushroomsquartered
- 2 onionschopped
- 3 red and green pepperscut into strips
- 3 garlic cloveschopped
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp dried chilli flakes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 ¼ cups hot water or stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ oz fresh parsley (optional)chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tablespoon of the 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide frying pan over a high heat and fry the 10 ½ oz button or chestnut mushrooms for 6 minutes, until golden and their liquid has gone. Tip into a bowl.
6 minStep 2: Add the rest of the 3 tbsp sunflower oil, season the 1 ½ lb pork shoulder with the 1 ¼ tsp salt and ¾ tsp black pepper and brown it in two batches for 4 minutes each, until golden all over.
8 minStep 3: Add the 2 onions and 3 red and green peppers and cook for 8 minutes over a medium heat, until softened.
8 minStep 4: Stir in the 3 garlic cloves, 2 tsp sweet paprika, ½ tsp dried chilli flakes and 2 tbsp tomato paste for 1 minute until fragrant, then add the hot 1 ¼ cups hot water or stock and 1 bay leaf.
2 minStep 5: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Transfer everything, with the mushrooms, to a clay pot or casserole and cover.
3 minStep 6: Bake for 45 minutes, uncovering for the last 15, until the pork is tender (well above 160°F) and the sauce is thick and bubbling. Scatter with ⅓ oz fresh parsley and serve in the pot.
45 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 460 kcal
- Protein
- 38 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 28 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does selsko meso take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 70 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of button or chestnut mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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